Curtain stretcher



frames of this type is obviated.

Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNITED STATES PETER CLIFTON HOLMQUIST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CURTAIN STRETCHER.

Appllication filed October 4, 1920. Serial No. 414,425.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER CLIFTON I-IoLMQUrsr, a citizen of the United States,4

residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to curtain stretchers but more particularly to such as are intended to be supported in a vsubstantially upright position and has for its primary object to-provide ay structure which is light in weight, strong, easily assembled and adjusted and in which the parts are so joined that the distortion frequently occurring in Further objects of the invention are to provide an improved corner. clamp for binding together the members of the frame, and to provide a simple and rigid hinge for connecting the legs or supports to the stretcher frame.

Referring to the drawings:

Fi g. 1 is a frontL view of a curtain stretcher with the selected embodiment of my invention incorporated therein.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of a portion of the invention, the parts being l in disassembled position.

Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the corner clamp.

In the drawings the selected embodiment of the invention is shown to comprise a l pieces G secured together at the corners.

The uper extremities of the end pieces 6 abut the inner edge of the corresponding side piece 5 and plates 7 and 8 are securedto and project beyond such extremities onl opposite sides thereof. The plates 7 have their upper extremities turned inwardly to form flanges 9 to enter the longitudinal slot 10 in the side piece. of the plates 8 are formed flat and fit the rear face of the side piece. Binding bolts 11 pass through the plates 7 and 8 and the upper end portion of the end pieces.

'Ihe opposite ends of the lower side pieces 5 project over the corresponding portions of the end pieces 6 and these pieces are bound together by corner clamps 12. Each of these corner clamps comprise a broad base plate 13 having a lug 14, a binding bolt 15,

The outer extremitiesv y and a broad hook shaped portion 16 formed intergral therewith. The lug 14 is preferably long and fits within a longitudinal slot 17 in the lower end portion of the end piece 6. The bolt 15 passesthrough the slot 17 and a thumb nut 18 is provided to bind the clamp `to the end pieces. The inwardly turned extremity 19 of the hooked shaped portion 16, of the clamp fits within the longitudinal groove 20 in the lower side piece 5 to bind the end and side pieces together. Distortion of the frame is prevented by the long lug 14 and the broad inturned eX* tremityk 19 of the clamp. j

Hooks 21 to engagethe edges of the curtain are spaced longitudinal of the end and side .pieces at desired intervals. These are shownmounted in longitudinal slots 22 in the side and end pieces to permit adjustment but thegparticular type of hook and method of mounting the same form no part of thc present invention and any of the well known types of curtain engaging means might be used.

In order to support the frame in substantially a vertical position to facilitate drying of the curtain, supporting legs 23 are mounted on each of the end pieces and are hingedly connected thereto. While any of the well known types of hinge might be used upon the legs, the lightness of 'the frame and its length renders it necessary to provide a hinge joint which is particular ly substantialy or twisting action is certain to occur. I have provided a hinge connection which is simple, light, strong and which will not permit of twisting of the frame relative to the supports or legs. This hinge comprises a plate 24 having a pair of prongs or spurs 25 struck therefrom to enter corresponding perforations 26 in the plate 8, and t-he side portions of plate 24 are bent outwardly to form ears 27 extending at substantially a right angle to the central portion ofy the plate and adapted to lit the corresponding side faces of the support or leg y23. A rivet 28 passes through the plates 7, 8, and 24 and the end piece 6 to bind these parts together and retain the prongs 25 within the perforations 2G. These prongs prevent rotation of the plate 24 on the rivet 28. rThe outwardly turned ears 27 of the plate 24 are provided with oppositely disposed perforations 29 to receive a hinge pin 30 which passes through the upper end portion ofthe supportorileg 23. The upper end of the support 23K is bevelled at 31 preferably atan angle ofl about 450 so that when the support is swung outwardly into the position indicated in the solid lines in Fig. 2 of the drawing, this inclined face will seat itself against the outer face of the plate and thus prevent further outward swinging of such support.

While the contacting ofthe bevelled end of the support with the face of the plate as described would generally be su-icienttoprevent the support from swinging outwardly too,4 far, Il find it advantageous, to provide a catch 32 which isin the present yen-ibo'diment pivoted atv oneend on the end piece 6 and has a lateral slot 33 near itsl opposite end to admit the screw or pin-34 in the support. 1

These curtain stretching frames are frequently made 6 feet or more in length depending on the size of curtains to'be handled and it is necessary thattheyf be of li ht weight ink order that theyv may beqrreaily moved about. Likewise it is essential-v that they be easily assembled' adjusted and taken apart as occasion may require, Greatl difficulty* has always been encountered in so connecting the members for-'mingV the frame. that this frame would not becoine distorted' and thus improperly shape the curtain being stretched thereon. The clamps 121 are provided with wide flanges which fit closely iny slots inv the parts to `be joined-` so thatv when these clamps are dra-wn into place by the tightening of the thumb nut on the binding bolt, no distortion is possible. The corner clamps can be made at al', very lewf @est by thusfformng the flangesI and:v bind-L ing bolts integral with the base plate for no tapping of holes is necessary the entire structure is much. more strfmgy than would be the case if it were fermoir. of nin-V. merons separate parta The hinge connection hereinbefonel de. scribed; would normally be made out of pressedl metal and; requires onlyf one rivet-- or binding pin` to secure it to theframe. It is: neat in appearanceand renders" relative twisting of the frame and supports' 'orlegs? impossible. In orderto permit the sup-` porting leg to be readily detached' from the frame I find iin-'advantageous to use a cot'ter` pin as a pivot for the hinge but any other suitable form of pin or bolt might be substituted therefor.

I am aware that changes in the forni and proportion of parts and in the details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention and I therefore reserve. the right to make all such changes as fairly fall Within the scope of the ap* pended claims.

claim:

1'. A curtainstretcher comprising a frame, supporting legs therefor, and a hinge connectionI between said frame and each of' said legs including a perforated base plate secured to said frame, a hinge plate secured to said base plate and provi ed with prongs struck therefrom to rest within the perforationsin said base plate, a pair of ears formed on said hinge plate to fit the corresponding side faces of the upper extremit off said leg,` and a hinge pin passing throng said: ears and said leg.

2; A curtain stretcher comprising side pieces having.r longitudinal slots, end pieces having longitudinal slotsi and clam to secure the side and end pieces toget er each including a basey plate of greater width than the slot insaid end piece and resting on said end" piece over said slot, a iange on said plate fitting within the slot in said end piece, and a binding bolt integral with said base plate and passing through said endpiece, said: plate. having a broad extension projecting` over said side piece and its extremity resting within. and fittingv the slot in said side piece.

3. A curtain stretcher comprising side pieces having longitudinal slots, end pieces having longitudinal sliots, and clamps to secure" the side'. and end pieces together each including a base plate of greater width than theislbtin said end piece and resting on said piece over said slot, a flange on said plate fitting within the slot in said and piece, and a binding. bolt formed on said flange andy projecting through the slot in said end piece, said plate having a hook shaped extension projecting up at the rear edge of the side piece and over the to thereof' and having' a broad flan e forme on its outer-extremity fitting withinv the slot in saidi side piece.

PETER CLIFTON HOLMQUIST.

Ell 

